Community Perspectives Research Articles

Identifying Barriers and Facilitators to Accessing Care for Historically Marginalized Communities Affected by Parkinson Disease: A Qualitative Study.

Parkinson disease (PD) is the second most common neurodegenerative disease. Members of the Black Diaspora (MBD) and Hispanic/Latinx people are less likely to receive a timely diagnosis following the onset of symptoms and more likely to experience greater disease severity due to late diagnosis. Historically marginalized populations (i.e., MBD, Hispanic, and Latinx communities) are not accurately represented in research; this, along with many other barriers, compounds underreporting and lack of recognition of PD. It is important to understand barriers to early diagnosis and healthcare access for these historically marginalized populations from the community's perspective. Our team conducted two focus groups to identify barriers and facilitators to PD healthcare-seeking behavior. We sought to identify which barriers are modifiable to ultimately improve engagement in neurological care for MBD and Hispanic individuals affected by PD. We enrolled 15 participants (13 female; African/African American/Black n = 10, Hispanic/Puerto Rican n = 3, other n = 2) for two focus groups. Discussions revealed sources of barriers to healthcare-seeking behavior in three main domains: legacy of racism in the United States, ancestral cultural environment, and healthcare system access. These sources influenced individuals' PD knowledge and familiarity. Additionally, participants expressed a desire to know more about PD and called for increased community-based programming for education and awareness. This paper uses a community-based participatory research approach to describe the experiences of MBD, Hispanic, and Latinx people in Manhattan and the surrounding areas in relation to possible sources of healthcare disparities and delayed PD diagnosis. These sources have broad implications and should be addressed through collaborative community programming.

The Saudi Community View of the Use of Artificial Intelligence in Health Care.

Artificial intelligence (AI) holds the promise to revolutionize the field of medicine and enhance the well-being of countless patients. Its capabilities span various areas, including disease prevention, accurate diagnosis, and the development of innovative treatments. Moreover, AI has the potential to streamline health-care delivery and lower expenses. The community should be aware of the potential applications of AI in health care, so that they can advocate for its development and adoption. Hence, the objective of this study is to assess the community's perspectives regarding the utilization of AI in health care. A cross-sectional, questionnaire-based study was conducted in Saudi Arabia during the period of June to October 2023. The questionnaire was distributed to people on various social media platforms using a convenience sampling method. The collected data were analyzed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences. The study included 771 individuals, with 42.5% having a positive outlook on the use of AI in health care, 31.8% having a neutral view, and 7.5% having a negative view. The only factor associated with a positive opinion was regional differences (P = 0.006). Moreover, participants who used medical apps or programs (P = 0.026), wearables (P = 0.027), felt more confident in using technology (P < 0.001), enjoyed using technology (P < 0.001), found it easier to familiarize themselves with new devices or programs (P < 0.001), and had more knowledge about AI (P < 0.001) had more positive opinions regarding the use of AI in health care. The study found that most Saudis, especially those who were familiar with the use of technology, support the use of AI in health care, with a positive or neutral view. Yet, targeted campaigns in certain regions are needed to educate the entire community about AI's potential benefits.

Community perceptions of the existence of mangrove ecosystems in Peunaga Cut Ujong Village, Meureubo District

Local communities played an important part of thepi existence of the mangrove ecosystem in Peunaga Cut ujong Village. Community perspectives on the existence of mangrove ecosystems have an impact on mangrove management steps in the local area. The purpose of this study was to identify community perceptions of the existence of mangrove ecosystems around the Peunaga Cut Ujong Village community. This research uses survey methods and in-depth interviews using a questionnaire sheet as a guide. The technique of determining respondents through snowball sampling. Respondents totaled 35 people who were selected based on the area of residence of the youth hamlet of Peunaga Cut Ujong Village. Data analysis of this research used Likert scale. The results showed that community perceptions of the functions and benefits of mangrove ecosystems had the lowest score of 858, the form of management score 916, and the level of participation with a score of 1246. Overall, the perceptions and opinions of local communities about the existence of mangrove ecosystems are in the very good category, with a score of 127. This value shows that the existence of mangroves is very good in the view of the Peunaga Cut Ujong community. Community involvement in mangrove conservation efforts will actually have an impact on the success of sustainable management.

Religious Moderation Realizes Harmonization of The Malay Islamic Community in South Sumatra

This study aims to examine the perspective of the Malay Islamic community on religious moderation in South Sumatra. In the context of increasing globalization, religious moderation is becoming an important and relevant issue, especially in the South Sumatra region which has a significant Malay Islamic population. This research uses quantitative methods with survey methods with stakeholders from various walks of life, including religious leaders, youth, and Malay communities. The results of the study show First, that there is general agreement that religious moderation in South Sumatra is expected to increase tolerance and unity among religious communities. However, there are also different perceptions, where some feel that religious moderation can threaten their traditional values and cultural identity. Second, the results of this study also found that the understanding of religious moderation in South Sumatra is strongly influenced by the local social, economic, and political context. The contribution of this research lies in a deeper understanding of the Malay Islamic community's perspective on religious moderation in South Sumatra. Third, the results of this study show the importance of strengthening strong local identities to support community participation in stable democratic processes and efforts to create a harmonious and inclusive environment in the region. Fourth, the results of this study also show that dialogue between religious communities and religious groups, can build better understanding between each other, reduce tensions, and create more solid conditions for democratic stability.

Tree species-specific differences in carbon allocation to ectomycorrhizal symbionts tightly relate to ectomycorrhizal fungal community composition

Host trees allocate photosynthates to ectomycorrhizal symbionts (ECMs) in exchange for soil nutrients, and the carbon allocation has profound effects on forest carbon sequestration. However, it is still a challenge to precisely quantify the amount of carbon allocated to ECMs and to identify factors affecting this allocation. Here, we estimated tree species-specific differences and the dynamics of carbon allocation to ECMs by 13CO2 labeling along seedling development, and explored mechanisms underlying these differences from the perspective of ECM fungal community across four tree species (evergreen Picea asperata and Quercus aquifolioides, deciduous Larix gmelinii and Betula albosinensis) and three development stages (early, middle and late of the growing season). Results showed that the proportion of 13C allocated to ECMs (P13CECMs) and ECM fungal community composition varied across tree species and seedling development. P13CECMs was higher in deciduous (3.3 ± 0.7%) trees than in evergreen trees (1.6 ± 0.3%), and higher at the late (5.2 ± 0.7%) than middle (1.8 ± 0.3%) and early (0.3 ± 0.1%) growing season. The relative abundance of the four ECM exploration types (contact, short-, medium- and long-distance) was 7.8–14.8%, nearly 50%, 25.2–31.2%, and nearly 10%, respectively, and varied significantly for contact and medium-distance types. The relative abundance of contact type was higher in deciduous than evergreen trees, and higher at the late than mid-growing stage, but the opposite was true for medium-distance type. Across tree species and seedling development, P13CECMs was positively correlated with the relative abundance of contact type, but negatively correlated with that of medium-distance type. The results suggest that carbon allocation to ECMs is tightly associated with ECM fungal community composition and highlight the critical role of ECM fungal community composition in carbon budges of forest ecosystem.

‘Let him die in peace’: understanding caregiver’s refusal of medical oxygen treatment for children in Nigeria

IntroductionEfforts to improve oxygen access have focused mainly on the supply side, but it is important to understand demand barriers, such as oxygen refusal among caregivers. We therefore aimed to...

Ownership Patterns of Land Rights from the Perspective of Customary Law Communities in Waropen Regency Papua Province

Ownership of land rights in the Waropen customary law community is very important because the land is a legacy of their ancestors which is used to meet their daily needs. The aim of this research is to find out more about land ownership rights from the perspective of the Waropen customary law community. The approach used is empirical, which looks directly at the reality that occurs among the Waropen traditional law community regarding ownership of land rights which are considered a legacy from their ancestors and are used to meet their daily needs. Data obtained from field observations, both primary and secondary, are then analyzed systematically so that the data can be accounted for. The results of this research reveal that the Waropen Indigenous people recognize 2 (two) types of land rights, namely ownership rights and use rights. Residents of the Waropen indigenous community can have property rights in the form of individual rights, family property rights which are the same as household property rights, and clan property rights or customary rights. Property rights in the Waropen language are called Mipena (Sanggei Village) or Risanau. Mipena or risanau in the traditional concept is originally a former garden. Former garden land refers to ownership of land or an area that is owned. Meanwhile, the right to use is the right to use or collect proceeds from land controlled by the state or land owned by another person, based on a mutual agreement between the land owner and the person who will use the land. In the Waropen indigenous community, this right of use can be differentiated into several groups of users of land rights, including the right to use for fellow Waropen people, this transfer is facilitated by the Government, the right to use for pastors, evangelists, teachers, health workers who come to dedicate themselves in the Waropen area and use rights are also given to traders from Bugis, Makassar, Java and Toraja as a place to carry out business activities.

Peasant communities in Peru

The objective was to analyze the processes of organization, action, leadership and perspectives of peasant communities in Peru, specifically in Junín, period 1959-2017, under a qualitative methodological approach, narrative-historical design. It is evident that in the 50s-60s of the 20th century, peasant organizations focused on the land problem with the estates, on the implementation of the pilot plan for agrarian reform and the founding of a communal university. Between 1969-1980, they were part of the structure of the Agricultural Societies of Social Interest, implemented by the agrarian reform of 1969. From 1980 and the end of the 90s, overwhelmed by political violence, the Peasant Rounds were formed, especially to confront the authoritarianism and Shining Path terrorism. In the 21st century, many communities continue the fight for territory with extractive companies (mining, hydrocarbons, non-metallic) and with the State for infrastructure and better public services.

Mountain as Living Oracles of the Past and the Future in Mamang Dai’s Poem “The Voices of Mountains"

Mountain as Living Oracles of the Past and the Future in Mamang Dai’s Poem “The Voices of Mountains"

Assessment of Nature Reserve Park Management for Sustainable Development: Insights from Idanre Hills in Ondo State Southwest, Nigeria

Despite Nigeria is gifted with a wealth of natural resources and rich cultural heritage, is still backward in terms of economic development. Therefore, ecotourism has therefore been identified as a vital regional approach for harmonizing economic growth and conservation. Thus, the study empirically evaluates the current state of ecotourism in Oke Idanre hills in Idanre Local Government Area of Ondo State, Nigeria. Primary and secondary data were collected and sourced with the aid of questionnaire and scheduled Interviews. The data involved qualitative analysis using descriptive statistics. The results revealed that although ecotourism is still at an early stage, some socioeconomic benefits for the Idanre community exist such as the employment of locals as tourist guides and other investments as a result of this destination. The finding shows the use and access of resources by the locals in the Idanre community as logging and poaching have become the order of the day. Also, Idanre locals have had to cope with reduced access to some parts of the hills especially during the day since the site was listed by UNESCO as a world heritage site. The dilapidated site resort has brought about revenue loss to the community. The site offers rich cultural artefacts and a tour guide is usually attached to educate the tourists. Hence this study is necessary to ascertain the current state of ecotourism in Idanre hills looking from the community perspective, the practices, administration, and management of Idanre hills, also recommendations offered are centered on the study of the findings.

Analisis Kebijakan Pendaftaran Tanah Sistematis Lengkap dan Implikasinya terhadap Pembangunan Berkelanjutan di Kota Baubau

This study aims to examine the Complete Systematic Land Registration (CSLR) policy in Baubau City and its impact on sustainable development. This study used qualitative methods by using interviews, document analysis, and field observations to collect data. A sample of respondents consisting of government officials, community members, and community leaders was selected by purposive sampling. Based on the analysis conducted, this study concludes that the successful implementation of CSLR policies in Baubau City has significant implications for sustainable development, including inclusive economic growth, social stability, and increased community participation in the regional development process. Understanding the dynamics of this policy can assist the government and stakeholders in implementing appropriate measures to ensure its sustainable benefits to the people and environment in the city. This research makes a significant contribution to the field of public policy and sustainable development by increasing understanding of policy effectiveness approaches in the context of land registration policies at the local level. This research also provides insight into the factors that influence the successful implementation of CSLR policies. However, this study on CSLR policy and sustainable development in Baubau City has some limitations. The study focuses only on policy aspects without considering the perspectives of local communities, who have unique knowledge and experience and can provide valuable insights into policy implications. Therefore, future research needs to expand the scope of analysis to include policy results, implementation processes, and constraints faced by policy implementers and the public.

From nonprofits to neighbors: Exploring the locus of campus-community partnerships

Service learning and community engagement (SLCE) have become near ubiquitous across U.S. higher education. While much scholarship has demonstrated positive student learning outcomes of SLCE, there has been unequal consideration towards understanding the experiences of communities involved. Because community voices and perspectives have been largely missing from literature, this paper, drawing on a community-based case study, and neoliberalism as a theoretical framework, uniquely explores the significance of SLCE at one institution from the vantage point of community members, notably local residents. As a result of the community contributions shared, this paper offers a way of thinking about SLCE &amp;ldquo;from nonprofits to neighbors&amp;rdquo; with an aim of (re)imagining SLCE with those who have often been left out of research.

‘We Were an Afterthought’: Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Pandemic in Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) Communities in New South Wales, Australia

ABSTRACT This paper investigates the impact on Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) communities in Australia of government and community responses to the coronavirus pandemic of 2019 in the domains of education, employment, housing, social connectedness, and public health communication. Most of the examples are drawn from the state of New South Wales. In Australia, CALD refers to people from countries not classified as main English speaking. Most CALD communities reported in this article are from refugee backgrounds, are recently arrived migrants or do not use English in most of their communication. Inadequate, and in some instances, inappropriate or absent support, adversely impacts CALD communities. We used a multidisciplinary bricolage approach that draws on media, government, and community support publications and concluded that CALD communities experienced heightened pressures due to lower resource availability and poor communication. This led to disruption of support services, exposing gaps and vulnerability. The results reported here challenge Australian government, schools, community agencies, researchers to include proactively CALD community perspectives when planning and responding to such crises in future. Improving communication, pandemic response planning, addressing needs and ensuring participation are key considerations.

Proposing Thematic Mapping for Integrated Risk Communication: A study of British & Japanese perspectives in flood-prone communities

Modern flood risk communication continues to lack the input of different stakeholder levels and as a result, there has been an insufficiency to construct communication that is inclusive of all stakeholders. There is also still an absence of consideration of context-specific information that helps to shape the communication crafting process. This study sought to establish the above through the creation of a thematic map (a visual display based on themes), merging top-down and bottom-up approaches to create a clearer picture of important factors for risk communication within the specific contexts being observed. The research team conducted 16 semi-structured interviews and focus groups with 4 different types of stakeholders at 2 rural sites in the UK and 2 rural sites in Japan. The results outlined five key themes that underpin integrated risk communication, establishing the thematic map – Individual Circumstances, Community Structure, Impact Scale, Response Capacity, and Social Barriers. These findings are important in beginning to help conceptualise how current DRR efforts can be enhanced and in presenting an integrated approach to risk communication that helps to reduce unnecessary complexity and inaccessibility. However, further replications of the study are needed at other sites across the world to test the robustness and adaptability of this kind of modelling.

Sustainable Landscape Design and Traditional Villages in Xuzhou, Jiangsu: Low-cost Strategies and Big Data Applications Influencing AI Integration

Big Data usage and Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology combined offer a potential approach to solving challenging problems. AI-driven solutions provide insightful analysis and creative solutions by utilizing the power of big data analytics. With an emphasis on the mediating role of technological literacy and the moderating effect of resource availability, this study investigates the effects of low-cost techniques, the usage of Big Data, and the integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) on sustainability in landscape design. The purpose of this study is to look at the intricate connections between these factors and how they affect sustainable landscape design methods and results as a whole. A standardized questionnaire was answered by a sample of 458 landscape experts as part of a quantitative approach. Smart PLS (Partial Least Squares), which incorporates evaluations of measurement models, structural models, and mediation and moderation studies, was utilized for data analysis. The study found that using Big Data, implementing low-cost techniques, and incorporating AI all had very favourable&amp;nbsp;effects on sustainability in landscape design. The efficient use of Big Data and AI was found to be mediated by technological literacy, highlighting the importance of this concept in this context. Additionally, resource availability emerged as a critical moderating factor, influencing the strength of these relationships. This research contributes to the field by offering a holistic understanding of the dynamics within sustainable landscape design, emphasizing the importance of integration of AI and utilization of Big Data. It provides practical insights for landscape professionals, informs policy development, and advances educational curricula about AI and Big Data in landscape architecture. The study's limitations include potential response bias due to self-reported data and the cross-sectional design, which restricts the establishment of causal relationships. Additionally, the study focused on professionals, limiting the generalizability of findings to broader community perspectives.

Community perspectives on COVID-19 outbreak and public health: Inuit positive protective pathways and lessons for Indigenous public health theory

ObjectivesIndigenous public health theory and the voices of Canadian Indigenous communities remain under-represented in the literature despite the Canadian Truth and Reconciliation Calls to Action, and the perspectives of Inuit are further under-represented in this literature. The goal of this paper is to explore the perspectives of Iqalungmiut (people of Iqaluit), frontline staff, and decision-makers on the management of the COVID-19 outbreak in Iqaluit in April to June 2021 and to identify lessons learned and contributions to public health policy and practice specific to Inuit populations in Canada.MethodsThis study used the Piliriqatigiinniq Community Health Research Model which was developed by Nunavummiut to guide community-based health and well-being research. Interviews were conducted with 44 individuals: 22 community members and shelter users; 17 frontline workers; and 5 decision-makers representing municipal and territorial government. Participants were asked about their experiences during the outbreak, sources of information, and strengths and challenges during outbreak management.ResultsChallenges included overcrowding, physical disconnection from family members, and mental health and trauma. Community-identified strengths included strong interagency cooperation, food hamper and COVID-19 care kit deliveries, and travel restrictions. Several Inuit positive health-protective pathways were identified including Ilaginniq; Silativut; Inuuqatigiittiarniq; Piliriqatigiinniq; Ikajurniq; and Pijitsirniq.ConclusionOutbreaks of infectious illness are not new to Nunavut communities and Inuit protective pathways have and continue to be critical avenues to adapt to and mitigate such challenges. This exploratory study provides clear direction for Inuit public health policy and practice in Canada, while contributing to the body of literature on Indigenous public health theory.

Restoring Children From Out‐of‐Home Care: Insights From an Aboriginal‐Led Community Forum

ABSTRACTRestoring children from out‐of‐home care (OOHC) to their families is the preferred outcome for all children removed by child protection services, yet little is known about how restoration processes are experienced by families and services supporting them. This paper provides important insights about Aboriginal child restoration from 40 practitioners and stakeholders at a community forum led by Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations in regional New South Wales (NSW), Australia. This is one component of larger Aboriginal‐led research, which investigates child protection experiences and pathways to successful restoration in NSW and the data source for this paper. The community forum explored the issues for families navigating family preservation, OOHC and restoration within child protection and legal systems. Findings include the need for a continuum of support for families throughout their engagement with child protection systems and crucially following the removal of their children. Barriers to effective restoration practice included a lack of access to meaningful and ongoing preservation services, insufficient cultural care planning and family finding efforts that are often too late, the pressure on services to support families without adequate capabilities or enough resourcing, the lack of transparency and the complexities in navigating the restoration process, and the lack of culturally informed support for children and their families while children are in care. Implications for policy and practice are discussed. This paper contributes to understanding practice, processes and barriers for restoration, particularly focused on the perspectives of Aboriginal families and communities, with potential insights for practice within Australia and internationally.

Armed actor interventions in humanitarian and public health crises: examining perspectives of crisis-affected community members

BackgroundDespite frequently providing non-military services in times of crisis, little systematic research has examined the perspectives of crisis-affected community members on the role of armed actors responding to humanitarian crises and public health emergencies.MethodsTo address this research gap, 175 interviews were conducted (2020–2021) amongst humanitarian and public health practitioners; armed actors; and crisis-affected community members across three country and four crisis contexts. Specifically, this effort included an Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo; a refugee crisis on the Jordanian-Syrian border; and a volcanic eruption and COVID-19 outbreak in the Philippines. Data was analysed using grounded theory principles.ResultsCrisis-affected community members held diverse views. Non-state armed groups (NSAGs) and government armed actors were characterised as antagonists by some but supportive by others; gender issues were central to perceptions of armed actors, in ways that were both prejudicing and favourable. Overall perception was most closely linked to armed actor roles rather than the relative amount of conflict in a given area.ConclusionsFindings nuance the relevant literature characterizing NSAGs as disruptive agents, and also the relevant literature that does not fully consider the nuances of gender and armed actor roles as deeply relevant to crisis-affected community perspectives on armed actors. These findings have important implications for both policy and academic discourse on militarization and localization.

Geo-visualizing the hotspots of smog-induced health effects in district Gujranwala, Pakistan: a community perspective.

This study aims to examine the health effects of smog on different age groups in Gujranwala and its associated health effects. To achieve this, primary data was gathered through a questionnaire survey focused on health issues faced by elderly individuals during the smog season. The results of the survey revealed that older adults in Gujranwala are particularly vulnerable to a range of health problems during this period, including coughing, throat infections, irritated eyes, runny noses, shortness of breath, chest pain while breathing, wheezing, asthma, heart problems, and respiratory issues. In order to analyze the spatial distribution of these health concerns, spatial and geo-statistical methods were employed utilizing ArcGIS 10.5. By integrating field data and secondary sources, hotspot and cold spot zones were identified. Employing the statistical model within ArcMap 10.5, hotspot analysis was performed to determine areas with elevated air quality index (AQI) values and associated health problems. The application of the inverse distance weighted approach, incorporating the Z value, facilitated a visual representation of areas with heightened and reduced AQI and health-related issues. The study's outcomes underscore the prevalence of health challenges among older adults during the winter months in Gujranwala, particularly linked to smog-induced throat infections, irritated eyes, and runny noses. The research identified zones with escalated AQI values, encompassing regions such as Gujranwala, Chandaqella, Alam Chowk, Khali Shahpur, Sialkot Bypass, and Pindi Bypass. It was established that industrial pollutants and vehicular emissions are the primary contributors to smog in the area. Given the detrimental consequences of pollution on individuals of all age groups, it is imperative to take action to mitigate its impact. This can be achieved through addressing pollution sources, implementing effective emission control measures, and fostering public awareness. By adopting proactive measures, the adverse health effects of pollution can be minimized, thereby fostering a healthier and safer environment for the entire population. This study offers valuable insights for policymakers and environmentalists to implement targeted interventions and improve air quality, ultimately safeguarding the health of local populations.

Maritime Defence Empowerment in the Development of Fishermen's Communities in Sungsang Waters, Banyuasin Regency, South Sumatra

According to Republic of Indonesia Law No. 34 of 2004 addressing the INAF, the duties of the Indonesian Navy are outlined in Article 9 paragraph (e): to implement Dawilhanla. Dawilhanla is the empowerment of coastal communities through Binpotmar, which is implemented by Lantamal III/JKT in Banyuasin regency, South Sumatra, coastal areas represented by Bungakarang Village, Tanjung Lago regency, Marga Sungsang, Sungsang I-IV, Pili Village, Banyuasin II regency. The purpose of organizing the Empowerment of Maritime Defense areas is: in the perspective of Hanneg's interests is to prepare maritime defense areas and support forces as early as possible to win the conflict. From a community perspective, it aims to assist in overcoming community challenges and improving the welfare of maritime communities. The purpose of this research is to analyze Lantamal/JKT's strategy for empowering marine defense areas to improve the welfare of fishing communities in Banyuasin regency, South Sumatra, as well as to develop a model of this strategy. The research employed a qualitative research approach. Data was collected from designated informants and analyzed using qualitative techniques. The findings of research on coastal community empowerment are limited by only providing assistance to fishermen, which is not optimal considering the limited budget. Synergy between agencies is not implemented in a sustainable manner that meets the needs of the fishing community. The conclusion of the implementation of the coastal community empowerment strategy to increase the income of coastal communities/fishermen in Banyuasin Regency, South Sumatra Province, was not successful.